Upgrade options for post sale M17x R3?

Hello all,

I wanted to know if anyone knows if there are any video card upgrades for my 6 month old laptop, this is my config:

Alienware M17x R3
Intel I7-2720Q
Nvidia 460M <---- Can I get an upgrade card for this? If so, anyone know where on the dell site?

If I can upgrade it, any suggestions as to what you'd recommend (best price to performance).

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes you perfectly can, order an AMD 6990m / GTX 580m from dell store, then follow the guidelines in this forum

nvidia card is a little pricy from dell store (not in configuration page... funny) but a read a lot of people grabbing the amd for about 500 dollars (1 month ago, should be cheaper by now)

 

Also note that if you have the 120hz 3d screen, you can only upgrade with an nvidia card...so in this case 580m. The 6990m doesn't work with the 120hz screen

you could put a 560m in there but there's no point because the 460m will overclock to stock 560m speeds easily

 

Yea I have the 120hz screen so i'll just wait until something better then the 560m comes out.

I have OC'ed my gen 1 and 2 M17x's in the past, any suggestions as to what I should aim for as far as OC'ing speeds (memory, clock, etc)?

ps. Thanks everyone for their comments!

 

There already is a card out that is better than yours, the 580M. The 6990M has a much better price-to-performance ratio, but you're stuck with Nvidia.

 

on your 460m?

The 460m on my Asus g73 easily went to:

800 core
1600 shaders
1480 ddr5

at those speeds you are getting a free 560m upgrade!

i don't know of one 460m that won't at least do those speeds and the temps hardly even went up at all. I used MSI Afterburner

 

uh?

You mean that, if I have a 3D 120hz screen with an Nvidia card and I switch to an AMD card, the machine will not work?

I knew that, switching from Nvidia to AMD card on a 3D screen m17Xr3 would only prevent the use of the 3D features, since Nvidia 3D Vision is not compatible with Radeons...but, there should be no connection, compatibility wise, between motherboard - gfx card - 3d screen, and this according to my knowledge as computer technician...maybe, do we have something different in here?

This question cause I am gonna upgrade the 900p screen soon, and I have Radeon HD 6870M. I have found a very nice offer for a complete alienware m17xR3 1080p 120Hz full assembly, with front bezel and magnesium frame...

 

I also would like to know something I just order my M17x r3 =D and im wanting to know if you can replace the slotloading Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW) for the slotloading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW) and if so where can I buy it and how hard is it to replace

 

that is correct. Won't work. We often get someone asking why their 6990m they just installed on their m17x laptop doesn't work. One of the first things that come up is the 3d 120hz screen.

Its safer if you upgrade your screen to go with a 1080p 60hz screen, then you won't have any worries

 

wow...

Now I need to find a full HD 60Hz full/assembly ://///

 

I'll give it a spin tonight, i'll let you know how far my card will allow to be pushed, thanks a bunch!

For an idea of the kind of performance bump, should i just check this page?
Mobile Graphics Cards - Benchmark List - Notebookcheck.net Tech

(I know I might have answered my own question but its been awhile lol)

 

Notebookcheck is an OK reference, but you're better off finding one of the many benchmark threads here on NBR for information. That way you've got an apples to apples comparison using hardware similar to yours.

 

What software is everyone using to OC their GPU? I have a 460 and plan to wait until I see a salvage MSI computer (570m) or the 580 comes down below 400-350 before I snag one, whichever coms first.

 

a 460m? You want MSI Afterburner:

MSI Afterburner